BRIDGEPORT, Pa. --
The Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA) league office has
released the complete and accurate minutes of the 2011 CWPA
Division I/II Women's Varsity Meeting from Monday, June 20, 2011 in
the Devon Room of the Connelly Center on the campus of Villanova
University in Villanova, Pa.

The minutes reflect the discussion
and decisions derived during the meeting with the league
institution's athletic directors and coaches in attendance and via
conference call.

Meeting was called to order at
10:30 a.m. by CWPA Commissioner Dan Sharadin.

Sharadin welcomed the
administrators and coaches present in person and via conference
call to the meeting. He stated that the agenda for the
meeting would follow three areas, preferably in order of
designation:

A)
Competitive Conditions

B)
Regular Season Schedule

C) Post Season Schedule

At 10:36 a.m. Sharadin began by
addressing Topic A – Competitive Conditions

Erin McDermott, (Executive
Associate Athletic Director/SWA, Princeton University) began the
conversation by noting that the Ivy League institutions in the
league (Princeton, Brown, Harvard) have a later start date by Ivy
League regulations and feel they are at a competitive disadvantage
due to this restriction. Currently, the Ivy League
institutions have a February 1 competitive start date and January
15 start date for practice.

Barry King (Head Women’s
Water Polo Coach, Indiana University) stated that Indiana
University is “against any restriction on practice
dates.”

Matt Anderson (Head Women’s
Water Polo Coach, University of Michigan) noted that Michigan will
lose one of their two home tournament dates if a league-wide
February 1 start date is implemented. Michigan normally hosts
a tournament on the third weekend of January. Due to facility
conflicts with swimming, the number of home dates available for
water polo is limited at Michigan and will probably not adjust
facility usage based exclusively on a later start date in the
league.

Matt Anderson (Head Women’s
Water Polo Coach, University of Michigan) added that Michigan
assists 3-4 West Coast teams in coming to its January tournament as
the West Coast teams will not travel East in late February
–April due to league games beginning in the Western
conferences (MPSF, WWPA, Big West, SCIAC).

Carl Salyer (Head Women’s
Water Polo Coach, University of Maryland) “echoes the
statement of Michigan” and feels a later start date is a
detriment.

Dr. Kim Fierke (Athletic Director,
Hartwick College) states Hartwick College is opposed to a later
start date.

Luis Nicolao (Head Men’s
& Women’s Water Polo Coach, Princeton University)
believes there is a competitive disadvantage to the Ivy League
institution’s later start when compared to the other programs
of Michigan, Indiana, Maryland, Hartwick, etc.

Maisha Palmer (Associate Athletic
Director/SWA, Bucknell University) notes that Bucknell does not
currently have restrictions on practice and competitive start
dates, but is aligned philosophically with Princeton, Brown and
Harvard on this issue. Bucknell, Brown, Princeton and Harvard
will not compromise on later start dates.

Dan Sharadin (Commissioner,
Collegiate Water Polo Association) states this appears to be an
issue that neither side will compromise on.

Erin McDermott, (Executive
Associate Athletic Director/SWA, Princeton University) states this
is an issue that the four schools (Bucknell, Brown, Princeton and
Harvard) will not compromise on.

Keith Bullion (Athletic Director,
Salem International University) asks if there is a compromise by
aligning the teams based on philosophy into three divisions:

West (Hartwick, Michigan, Indiana, Maryland, possibly Colorado
State University {if they elect to join})

Ryan Bowles (Assistant Athletic
Director, University of Maryland) states the decision of Bucknell
and George Washington to align with the “Ivies” is a
philosophical decision by their administration. However, to
address this issue a decision on seeding and how the Women’s
Division I/II Eastern Championship will work must be first
discussed.

Matt Anderson (Head Women’s
Water Polo Coach, University of Michigan) agrees with Bowles
stating, “We must work backwards from Easterns to find the
answer).

Dan Sharadin (Commissioner,
Collegiate Water Polo Association) notes an issue is that some
schools do not feel they can compete and win the Eastern
Championship, while others feel they can compete and win the
championship on a regular basis.

Barry King (Head Women’s
Water Polo Coach, Indiana University) states that Indiana feels
this issue is driven by financial aid (athletic scholarships), and
is opposed to a split in the conference/divisions based on
financial aid or resources.

Keith Bullion (Athletic Director,
Salem International University) feels his proposal and the debate
are based on resources available to coaches (travel, budget, etc.)
and not financial aid. The institutional goal for the four
(i.e. Michigan, Indiana, Maryland, Hartwick) is based on a desire
to win the Eastern Championship.

Erin McDermott, (Executive
Associate Athletic Director/SWA, Princeton University) notes no one
has brought up financial aid in the discussion, so this is a moot
point in the conversation.

Carl Salyer (Head Women’s
Water Polo Coach, University of Maryland) states institutional
support can change. He could have a new athletic director
that will tier sports at Maryland and make water polo a third tier
sport with reduced financial and facility resources.

Matt Anderson (Head Women’s
Water Polo Coach, University of Michigan) adds Michigan is
constantly looking to pare down athletic budgets, so the financial
resources available to his program can change drastically during,
before or after a season of play.

Dr. Kim Fierke (Athletic Director,
Hartwick College) states the teams in the league will need to
figure out where to meet-up to minimize financial impact of
realigning the divisions (i.e., Michigan and Hartwick may need to
play in California during a tournament).

Dan Sharadin (Commissioner,
Collegiate Water Polo Association) raises the question of a split
in the divisions based on philosophy to the administrators joining
the meeting via conference call.

Gary Brown (Assistant Athletic
Director, Harvard University) states it is Harvard’s desire
for 2-3 divisions with a break based on philosophy.

Dan Sharadin (Commissioner,
Collegiate Water Polo Association) asks for a raise of hands as to
which programs want restrictions on practice and competitive start
dates. Princeton (Erin McDermott, Luis Nicolao), Brown (via
vocal affirmation by Joan Taylor), Bucknell (Maisha Palmer) and
Harvard (Jessi Wood) affirm this desire. George Washington
does not raise a hand nor is there a vocal affirmation of this
intent.

Don Sherman (Associate Athletic
Director/Head Men’s & Women’s Water Polo Coach,
Gannon University) and Curtis Robinettte (Head Men’s &
Women’s Water Polo Coach, Mercyhurst College) note their
schedules already fall into the restrictions proposed due to a
portion of their team competing in either swimming or other
activities. However, the potential for travel to Boston or
Princeton is a concern for them in terms of budget impact.

Keith Bullion (Athletic Director,
Salem International University) states it is Salem
International’s intent to have Mercyhurst, Gannon and Salem
International in the same division. Salem will have athletic
aid (3.5-5 scholarships), including one international scholarship
that does not count in NCAA numbers.

Curtis Robinette (Head Men’s
& Women’s Water Polo Coach, Mercyhurst College) notes
that Mercyhurst does not need Salem in their division if it helps
the league.

Matt Anderson (Head Women’s
Water Polo Coach, University of Michigan) states that the league
cannot separate into three divisions until Salem International
shows it is a viable program in the wake of missing this
season.

There is not a vocal affirmation or
otherwise to agree to a two division format, although conversation
changes to a two-division format.

Don Sherman (Associate Athletic
Director/Head Men’s & Women’s Water Polo Coach,
Gannon University) says Gannon wants home games and does not want
to travel all the time to other institutions. Teams in their
division will need to agree to travel to Erie to make this
work.

Dan Sharadin (Commissioner,
Collegiate Water Polo Association) asks for a recess from
11:20-11:30 a.m. to allow the teams to discuss the issue privately
in smaller groups.

Keith Bullion (Athletic Director,
Salem International University) states Salem International is
comfortable in either division in order to balance out the
teams.

Curtis Robinette (Head Men’s
& Women’s Water Polo Coach, Mercyhurst College) states
Mercyhurst is open to either division, but would lean towards East
(Princeton, Brown, Bucknell, George Washington, Harvard, et
al).

Don Sherman (Associate Athletic
Director/Head Men’s & Women’s Water Polo Coach,
Gannon University) states Gannon is open to either division, but
will make a decision based on the easiest path to the Division I/II
Women’s Varsity Eastern Championship.

Dan Sharadin (Commissioner,
Collegiate Water Polo Association) notes that the conversation
appears dependent upon the outcome of how the Eastern Championship
is designed and seeded. Teams agree to discuss Eastern
Championship format and seeding prior to regular season schedule
format.

Barry King (Head Women’s
Water Polo Coach, Indiana University) asks if the teams have agreed
to their division composition.

Dan Sharadin (Commissioner, Collegiate Water Polo Association)
states that no team will “lock in” until the resolution
of the Eastern Championship format and seeding. There is
vocal and physical affirmation to this point by the coaches and
administrators in attendance.

Barry King (Head Women’s
Water Polo Coach, Indiana University) asks if Notre Dame College
(Ohio) is a definite addition to the league next year.

Dan Sharadin (Commissioner,
Collegiate Water Polo Association) states that Notre Dame is
definite for next year.

Matt Anderson (Head Women’s
Water Polo Coach, University of Michigan) states the No. 12 and 13
teams should play into the Eastern Championship field on one of
their campuses with the loser moving into a consolation
bracket.

Keith Bullion (Athletic Director,
Salem International University) states this works best if everyone
can come to the championship site.

Dan Sharadin (Commissioner,
Collegiate Water Polo Association) asks if it is the intent of the
membership to bring everyone to the Eastern Championship.

Membership votes unanimously by
hand-raise vote to bring all 13 teams to the Eastern Championship.
Vote is amended to 14 teams by Matt Anderson (Head Women’s
Water Polo Coach, University of Michigan) if Colorado State
University agrees to join CWPA in the future.

Dan Sharadin (Commissioner,
Collegiate Water Polo Association) asks what the intent of the
league membership is regarding the championship seeding.

Carl Salyer (Head Women’s
Water Polo Coach, University of Maryland) wants to continue the
seeding by committee.

Maisha Palmer (Associate Athletic
Director/SWA, Bucknell University) states Bucknell is OK with a
cross-pollination committee to seed the championship from the two
divisions. However, Bucknell does not want the champion of one
division to be seeded outside the top few places in the
bracket. Bucknell favors Option A from the formats forwarded
by the league commissioner:

Option A – Separate Division Seedings
(Each division plays their regular season to qualify four teams to
the Eastern Championship. Teams are seeded 1-4 on their
won/loss records going into the tournament. Each four-team
group plays within themselves on Friday and Saturday to determine a
champion for their division – as well as the remaining
places. The division champions from the two divisions meet on
Sunday along with their corresponding lower seeds (i.e.,
2nd place finisher in Division A vs. 2nd
place finisher in Division B, etc.) to determine the school that
qualifies for the NCAA Championship, as well as the final order of
standings.

Option B- Committee Seeding (Each division
plays their regular season to determine a champion that is crowned
at their respective division championship. The top four teams
from each division championship qualify for the Eastern
Championship and are seeded by committee according to NCAA
criteria)

Option C –Alternating Seeding (Each
division plays their regular season to determine a champion that is
crowned at their respective division championship. The top
four teams from each division championship qualify for the Eastern
Championship and are seeded in alternating fashion between
divisions according to their division finish.)

Matt Anderson (Head Women’s
Water Polo Coach, University of Michigan) states Michigan is
opposed to Option A.

Keith Bullion (Athletic Director,
Salem International University) and Ryan Bowles (Assistant Athletic
Director, University of Maryland) state that Salem International
and Maryland are also opposed to Option A.

Dr. Kim Fierke (Athletic Director,
Hartwick College) states that the member institutions are still one
conference and all want to send the best representative to the NCAA
Championship.

Barry King (Head Women’s
Water Polo Coach, Indiana University) notes the intent of the
Eastern Championship is to determine the best team in the
league.

Carl Salyer (Head Coach
Women’s Water Polo, University of Maryland) does not think it
is fair to give equal access to the Eastern Championship game to
either division based on simply winning your division as outlined
in Option A.

Matt Anderson (Head Women’s
Water Polo Coach, University of Michigan) states that in 9-10 years
of competition, the Eastern Championship has never been seeded
incorrectly. The two best teams in the league have always
shown they deserve to be in the Eastern title game. He
remarks that under Option A, Harvard never would have experienced
the opportunity to almost upset Indiana in the tournament
quarterfinals at this year’s championship. The
potential for a team to upset another team has a bearing on the
outcome of this decision regarding seeding.

Barry King (Head Women’s
Water Polo Coach, Indiana University) does not feel it is fair to
give both division champions an automatic berth in the Eastern
title game as outlined in Option A.

Dan Sharadin (Commissioner,
Collegiate Water Polo Association) states the membership needs to
make “hard decisions” regarding the continuation of the
league. “Will all the league members stay together and
will everyone go along with the majority opinion?”

Sara Headley (Assistant Director of
Athletics, Mercyhurst College) states it is Mercyhurst’s
request to use Option C.

Dr. Kim Fierke (Athletic Director,
Hartwick College) states that breaking up the conference weakens
the sport and the conference and the member institutions
standing.

Erin McDermott, (Executive
Associate Athletic Director/SWA, Princeton University) notes that
Princeton is open to Option C, as long as the two division
champions are seeded No. 1 and 2 in the Eastern Championship
bracket.

Ryan Bowles (Assistant Athletic
Director, University of Maryland) notes that a team can manipulate
the system if Maryland (for example) goes with the Princeton et al.
and has an easier path to the No. 1 or 2 seed in the Eastern
Championship field.

Matt Anderson (Head Women’s
Water Polo Coach, University of Michigan) states Michigan is open
to giving the “restricted division” champion (i.e.,
Princeton, Harvard, Brown, Bucknell, George Washington, etc.) a
guaranteed Top Four seed at the Eastern Championship.

Dan Sharadin (Commissioner,
Collegiate Water Polo Association) states that the “crux of
the issue is if the teams that want restrictions can get the right
conditions in order to get the best experience for their
student-athletes?”

Maisha Palmer (Associate Athletic
Director/SWA, Bucknell University) states the important issue is
that the “restricted division” champion must get a high
seed at the Eastern Championship.

Erin McDermott, (Executive
Associate Athletic Director/SWA, Princeton University) states
Princeton is not prepared to make a decision regarding a
division.

Chris Hennelly (Assistant Athletic
Director, George Washington University – via conference call)
states George Wahsington is not prepared to make a decision
regarding a division.

Dr. Kim Fierke (Athletic Director,
Hartwick College) states Hartwick is open to a conversation
regarding the Eastern Championship seeding, with the two division
champions earning No. 1 and 2 seeds, for the good of the
conference.

Dan Sharadin (Commissioner,
Collegiate Water Polo Association) proposes that the two division
champions (restricted, unrestricted) receive the No. 1 and 2 seeds
in the Eastern tournament, with the remaining teams seeded by
committee.

Barry King (Head Women’s
Water Polo Coach, Indiana University) states this is an
unacceptable compromise.

Matt Anderson (Head Women’s
Water Polo Coach, University of Michigan) remarks the
“Five” (Princeton, Brown, Bucknell, Harvard, George
Washington) should have discussed this idea prior to arriving at
the meeting, but this proposal is not a deal-breaker from
Michigan’s perspective.

Keith Bullion (Athletic Director,
Salem International University) prefers seeding the championship
from No. 1-13 based on regular season performance, but has no
issues with honoring the division champions with No. 1 or 2
seeds.

Barry King (Head Women’s
Water Polo Coach, Indiana University) agrees with Michigan that a
1-13 format would be the best alternative for the championship
seeding.

Curtis Robinette (Head Men’s
& Women’s Water Polo Coach, Mercyhurst College) states
Mercyhurst is interested in a compromise that will benefit the
league.

Curtis Robinette (Head Men’s
& Women’s Water Polo Coach, Mercyhurst College), Keith
Bullion (Athletic Director, Salem International University) and Don
Sherman (Head Men’s & Women’s Water Polo Coach,
Gannon University) ask to have until Wednesday via a conference
call to make their decision as to which division they would like to
join.

Matt Anderson (Head Women’s
Water Polo Coach, University of Michigan) states it is
Michigan’s intent to have a decision on this issue today.

Barry King (Head Women’s
Water Polo Coach, Indiana University) wants the divisions worked
out so that a league schedule can be produced in the next week.

Dan Sharadin (Commissioner,
Collegiate Water Polo Association) notes the league by-laws allow
Salem International to vote as a dues-paying member on all
decisions. He continues that a motion is needed to outline
how the divisions are formatted, the seeding principles for the
Eastern Championship and the conditions by which the divisions will
operate during the regular season.

To allow Salem International,
Gannon and Mercyhurst time to discuss their division alignment, Dan
Sharadin (Commissioner, Collegiate Water Polo Association) recesses
the meeting at 1:00 p.m.

“The creation of a two
division format with one division meeting only the restrictions set
forth under NCAA rules (herein noted as
“unrestricted”), with the other division (herein noted
as “restricted”) abiding based on restrictions more
limiting than the requirements set forth by the NCAA rules
including:

During the non-traditional season, teams are banned from any
overnight travel

During the non-traditional season, teams are limited to a
maximum of 15 practices during which any and/or all coaches are
present on the pool deck. (Clarification of his restriction
includes all conditioning practices (i.e., swim sessions) or
practices that feature water polo fundamentals during which a coach
is present). Strength training and conditioning sessions are not
counted in the 15 but they are countable hours in the 20-hour rule
during that segment and in the 8-hour rule when out of season
completely, as normal.

It is the understanding that the
division champions from both the “restricted” and
“unrestricted” divisions will be seeded as either No. 1
or No. 2 for the Eastern Championship and have first round byes in
the championship bracket. The determination of the No. 1 seed
between the two division champions will be done by a seeding
committee. The seeding committee will seed the remaining
teams at No. 3-13 (or 3-through the maximum number of Division I/II
programs in the league) in a head-to-head comparison of the
remaining teams.”

Gannon, Indiana, Salem
International and Mercyhurst abstain from a decision at this
time.

Dan Sharadin (Commissioner,
Collegiate Water Polo Association) recesses the meeting at 1:46
p.m. for Gannon, Indiana, Salem International and Mercyhurst to
discuss among themselves and with their administrators which
division they wish to join.

Dan Sharadin (Commissioner,
Collegiate Water Polo Association) reconvenes the meeting at 1:50
p.m. with Mercyhurst selecting the restricted division, while
Indiana, Gannon, Salem International selected the unrestricted
division to balance the divisions with six teams in each.

As Notre Dame College is not
present at the meeting, Dan Sharadin (Commissioner, Collegiate
Water Polo Association) will discuss the issue with the institution
to determine their division selection.

Barry King (Head Women’s
Water Polo Coach, Indiana University) asks if the teams’
decision regarding division alignment is binding. Dan Sharadin
(Commissioner, Collegiate Water Polo Association) states the
decision is binding and the league will do a two-year schedule
model in the coming weeks.

Dr. Kim Fierke (Athletic Director,
Hartwick College) proposes that each team will play each other one
time in division league play during the season. However, a
division game does not need to be contested on a campus site and
can be played at a neutral site (i.e. another league member) or
during the course of a tournament.

Barry King (Head Women’s
Water Polo Coach, Indiana University) makes a Motion I1-2011 that
both division structures are the same.

Dan Sharadin (Commissioner,
Collegiate Water Polo Association) states that he will send out
regular season schedule models for a two-year cycle. A
conference call will be held on Thursday, June 23 at Noon (per the
request of Matt Anderson (Head Women’s Water Polo Coach,
University of Michigan) to determine a schedule model.

Following discussion,
representatives from the University of Maryland, Bucknell
University, Brown University, Mercyhurst College and University
concur on a single-round robin format with a division
championship.

Dan Sharadin (CWPA Commissioner)
notes Notre Dame College has elected to go into the unrestricted
division, thus putting seven teams in the unrestricted and six in
the restricted.

Carl Salyer (Head Women’s
Water Polo Coach, University of Maryland) makes a motion (Motion
1II-2011) that the division structures be “A single
round-robin tournament with a division championship. Games
during the regular season can be competed at a neutral site by
mutual consent of both institutions.”

Dan Sharadin (CWPA Commissioner)
asks how the Unrestricted teams vote on a six –team
format.

Maisha Palmer (Associate Athletic
Director/SWA, Bucknell University) notes that since the league
membership passed Motion 1I-2011 on Monday that mandates both
divisions follow the same format (whether it be six or seven
teams), the Unrestricted and Restricted (Princeton, Harvard, Brown,
Mercyhurst, Bucknell, George Washington), must vote as well on the
seven team format.

Dan Sharadin (CWPA Commissioner)
and the league institutions present concur, although votes on
Motion IV-2011 remain valid until otherwise noted.

Dan Sharadin (CWPA Commissioner)
asks about names for the two divisions (noted as Restricted &
Unrestricted). Membership by voice consent allows league
office to rename divisions. Unrestricted teams request
“Western Division”, while Unrestricted teams do not
voice a preference.

Topic 1II: 13-Team Eastern
Championship Format

Dan Sharadin (CWPA Commissioner)
asks the league membership for guidance on the 13-team Eastern
Championship format,

Discussion leads to a consensus
that the No. 13 team play the No. 12 team leading to a 12-team
format. However, the format should be set-out that the No. 13
team can play through the format leading to results for all
places.

Dr. Kim Fierke (Athletic Director,
Hartwick College) proposes Motion V-2011 which would set the date
of the division championships two weeks prior to the Eastern
Championship to minimize consecutive missed class time. This
would put the division championships on the weekend of April 13-15
in 2012.

Barry King (Head Women’s
Water Polo Coach, Indiana University) states Indiana is opposed to
this because it compromises the institutions ability to put
together a schedule. According to King, this motion will
force the teams to complete their regular season schedules prior to
the end of March, and would cause teams difficulty in finding games
during the two-week span between the division championship and
Easterns.

John McBride (Head Men’s
& Women’s Water Polo Coach, Bucknell University) states
that the site for the Eastern Championship may affect the date
selected for the division championship and should be voted upon
first.

Discussion occurs on the ability of
teams that do not have viable on-campus pools to host the Eastern
Championship to have an opportunity to find adequate off campus
facilities.

Matt Kittle (Head Men’s &
Women’s Water Polo Coach, Notre Dame College) concurs to the
point regarding non-viable hosts having a chance to find adequate
off campus facilities to host the Eastern Championship.

Following discussion of potential
host sites, John McBride (Head Men’s & Women’s
Water Polo Coach, Bucknell University) amends his motion to rotate
the host site for the Eastern Championship during a two-year basis
(2012, 2013) with the Restricted Division hosting in 2012 and the
Unrestricted Division hosting in 2013. McBride further amends
Motion VI-2011 that the University of Michigan the Eastern
Championship host site in 2013 and Brown University the host site
in 2012 (as previously released to the membership).

Matt Anderson (Head Women’s
Water Polo Coach, University of Michigan) reiterates his second of
Motion VI-2011.

Dan Sharadin (CWPA Commissioner)
asks the league membership’s preference in regards to how the
regular season schedule is compiled. The teams can either
schedule the contests themselves, which caused issues during the
2011 season, or allow the league commissioner to compile the
schedule. He requests that if teams create their own schedule a
definitive date must be established for completion. In addition,
institutions should recognize that the schedule they create on
their own may be more costly than the one created by the league
office.

Carl Salyer (Head Women’s
Water Polo Coach, University of Maryland) states it is the desire
of Maryland that the league compile the schedule for the
Unrestricted Division teams.

Matt Anderson (Head Women’s
Water Polo Coach, University of Michigan) and Alan Huckins (Head
Women’s Water Polo Coach, Hartwick College) state it is in
the desire of Michigan and Hartwick that the Unrestricted Division
teams be allowed to compile their own league schedules.

Joan Taylor (Senior Associate
Athletic Director, Brown University) and Gary Brown (Assistant
Athletic Director, Harvard University) state it is the desire of
Brown and Harvard that the league compile the schedule for the
Restricted Division teams.

Matt Anderson (Head Women’s
Water Polo Coach, University of Michigan) makes a Motion (Motion
VII-2011) to allow the Unrestricted Teams to make their own league
schedule which must be submitted by August 1st.

Dan Sharadin (CWPA Commissioner)
asks what will happen if the institutions do not comply with the
deadline. Teams unanimously agree to allow the conference office to
complete the schedule for any institutions failing to meet the
deadline and the schools must live with the outcome.

Dr. Kim Fierke (Athletic Director,
Hartwick College) reintroduces the formally withdrawn Motion V-2011
which would set the date of the division championships two weeks
prior to the Eastern Championship to minimize consecutive missed
class time. This would put the division championships on the
weekend of April 13-15 in 2012.